Data collection and automatic remote transmission system

ABSTRACT

A personal medical dictation system that can be easily and conveniently used to capture and preserve audio information. The system includes a specially designed portable, hand-held recording component that is of a small size, but yet is capable of storing at least one hour of actual dictation in compressed form and a cooperating dictation receiver that functions to automatically transfer the recorded data to a central processing area. The hand-held recording component can be expeditiously, mechanically, and electrically transmitted to the central processing area for transcription. The dictation receiver component also automatically recharges the batteries of the hand-held recording unit.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/340,868,filed on Jun. 28, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,657, the entire contentsof which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus forcollecting and preserving data. More particularly the invention concernsa method and apparatus for collecting and preserving medical informationobtained by a physician using a personal medical dictator device andthen preserving the data through the use of a novel dictation receiverapparatus.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Several devices have been suggested in the past for recording andpreserving audio data. The most common of these devices is theconventional dictation recording device that records a user's dictationon a magnetic tape. The so-called prior art tape recorder reproduces thedictation by reading the recorded signal from the magnetic tape andpreparing an electric signal representative of the recorded dictation.After the dictation is recorded, the user typically provides themagnetic tape to a typist who prepares a type written transcript. Thisis done by inserting the magnetic tape into a tape playing device whichincludes means for generating an acoustic reproduction of the dictationrecorded on the magnetic tape. While listening to the reproduction ofthe dictation, the typist types a transcript of the dictation on thekeyboard of a typewriter or word processing device.

In the past many physicians have made rather wide use of both hand-heldand desk-mounted dictation devices to record their activities. Thephysician's description of interactions with patients whether in theoffice, in the hospital or in the operating room, are vital to thedelivery of quality health care. Furthermore, documentation by thedoctor is mandatory for legal purposes, to meet demands of regulatorybodies, and for effective business practices, including efficientbilling, contractual compliance and the like. The permanent records ofthe physician's activities that are produced are typically kept in themedical record or “chart” of the patient.

When tape recorders are not used by the physician to record day-to-dayactivities, records are sometimes handwritten. On occasion the physicianwill also use a telephone to dictate notes to a remote receiving unit,usually located at a transcription location. At the transcriptionlocation a medical secretary or other typist transcribes the doctorsspoken notes into text using a typewriter or word processor. The typeddictation is then placed in the medical record.

In other instances, the physician may use a hand-held digital recorderand electronically transfer the dictation directly to a personalcomputer. Several different types of digital recorders and the computersoftware to operably connect them to a personal computer are readilycommercially available.

Each of the foregoing prior art techniques has its drawbacks. Forexample, when either a hand-held or desk-mounted tape recorder is used,the magnetic tape onto which the dictation is stored must be physicallyacquired and inserted into the recorder and then removed when thedictation is complete. The tape must then be physically delivered to thetranscription location. During this process the tape can be lost,damaged, or recorded over prior to transcription resulting in the lossof crucial data. When using the tape recorder, access to prior dictationon the magnetic tape, or access to an earlier portion of the currentdictation is slow and inconvenient because the tape must be physicallyrewound to the desired location.

With respect to telephone dictation, the physician must, of course, bein proximity to a telephone and the telephone must be available for use.If the telephone is not immediately accessible by the physician, time islost in walking to the telephone and if the telephone is in use byanother person, additional valuable time can be lost waiting for accessto the telephone. In using the telephone to dictate medical records, thephysician must dial the transcription location telephone number whichmay involve as much as a 12 digit number. Additionally, the physicianmust remember, or look up which numerical keys on the telephone are tobe used to perform typical dictation functions. Once the transcriptionlocation is dialed, the physician must wait for the remote receivingunit to answer before dictation can commence. After the dictation unitanswers, the physician must wait for instructions from the answeringunit and then perform manual operations as directed as, for example,keying in the report type and the patient's record number. Finally, oneach occasion, the physician must key in information that is constantas, for example, the physician's identification number and other datawhich does not change for a series of particular patients. All of theseactions involve wasted motion and wasted time.

Problems concerning the use of prior art, hand-held digital recordersinclude the fact that most commercially available digital dictationdevices are designed for general-purpose use and, therefore, haveunnecessary keys and functions that complicate their use for medicaldictation. Additionally, presently available digital recording devicesrequire that a physical connection be made for re-charging and for datatransmission from the recording device to a receiving device, such as apersonal computer that is necessarily located in the immediate vicinityof the digital recorder. Finally, existing digital recording devicesrequire that a computer program be run on the receiving computer inorder for the dictation to be transferred from the device into thememory of the computer so that the transcription activity can beperformed.

One example of the aforementioned type of prior art voice recordingsystem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,220 issued to Barker. TheBarker system includes a portable voice recording device having amicrophone for generating an electrical signal representative of anacoustic speech signal. An analog to digital converter receives theelectric signal from the microphone and generates a digital memorysignal representative of the electric signal. A memory device stores thedigital memory signal. In response to a user's request, a digital toanalog converter converts the memory signal to an analog electricalsignal which drives a loudspeaker to generate an acoustic reproductionof the original speech signal. Somewhat similar Barker dictationrecording devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,548,566 and5,818,800 also issued to Barker. While the Barker systems representsignificant advance in the art, to effect the transfer of the dictationfrom the recording device of the receiving machine, the user must stillbe somehow “tethered” to a personal computer. Also, manual processes,such as installation and operation of receiving software, are required

As will be better understood from the discussion which follows, aprimary object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks ofthe prior art data recording and preservation systems as described inthe preceding paragraphs by providing a simple, easy to use and highlyefficient personal medical dictation system that facilitates therecording of the physician's dictation and the subsequent automatictransmittal of that dictation without effort on the part of thephysician to a non-contiguous central location from which transcriptionquickly and efficiently can take place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By way of summary the personal dictation system of the present inventioncomprises two cooperating devices that facilitate the recording of aphysician's dictation and the subsequent transmittal of the dictation toa remotely located central location at which transcription of therecorded data can take place. The “capturing” component of the system,or “Personal Medical Dictator” (PMD) comprises a specially designed,compact, and hand-held, portable, battery-powered unit that can becarried in a pocket or worn on the belt. The “transmission” component orDictation Receiver (DR) comprises a countertop or wall mountedreceptacle or docking station into which the capturing component (PMD)is placed so that dictation can be quickly and automatically transferredfrom the capturing device and into the dictation receiver. From theDictation Receiver (DR) the data is then automatically transferred to aremote central processing area and, at the same time, the batteries ofthe capturing component are automatically re-charged.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a personal medical dictation system that will be accepted byphysicians and one that can be easily and conveniently used byphysicians to capture and preserve descriptions of their interactionswith patients. More particularly, it is an object of the invention toprovide a system that includes a specially designed portable, hand-heldrecording component that is of a small size, but yet is capable ofstoring at least one hour of actual dictation in compressed form and acooperating dictation receiver for automatically transferring therecorded data to a central processing area.

It is another object of the invention to provide a system of thecharacter described in the preceding paragraphs in which the hand-heldrecording component comprises a simplified, easy-to-use, digitalrecorder that can be expeditiously mated with the dictation receiver sothat the recorded data can be rapidly and accurately transmitted to thecentral processing area without effort by the physician fortranscription.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel personal medicaldictation system of the class described in which the dictation receiverthat is cooperatively associated with the hand-held digital recorder,not only quickly and accurately transmits the recorded data to a centralprocessing area for transcription, but, at the same time, alsoautomatically re-charges the batteries of the hand-held recording unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of theaforementioned character that is highly reliable in operation and isspecially designed to insure that the physician's valuable recordedaudio dictation is not lost during processing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system as described inthe preceding paragraph in which the captured dictation is accuratelytranscribed and returned to the physician in minimum time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capturing component thatexhibits superior speech quality that is no worse than high qualitytelephone transmission.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capturing component thatincludes a speaker system for audio playback of dictation and for audiotransmission of instructional and informational messages stored in thememory of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capturing component orhandheld recorder of the character described in the precedingparagraphs, which further includes a visual display located on the frontcover of the device to provide visual indicators, such as messagesregarding dictation length and position, battery power remaining,options and so forth.

The foregoing and other objectives will be met by the novel personalmedical dictation system illustrated in the drawings and describedhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a generally perspective exploded view of one form of thepersonal medical dictation system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the capturing device orhand-held digital recorder component of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the hand-held recorder shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a generally diagrammatic view showing in block diagram formthe various cooperating components that make up one embodiment of thepersonal medical dictation system of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a generally diagrammatic view showing in block diagram formone embodiment of the capturing component or personal medical dictatorof the system of the invention

FIG. 9 is a generally diagrammatic view in block diagram form oneembodiment of the dictation receiver apparatus of one form of themedical dictation system of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 6, oneform of the apparatus of the invention for collecting and preservingmedical information obtained by a physician is there shown. Theapparatus here comprises a data capturing device or personal medicaldictator (PMD) identified by the numeral 14 and a cooperativelyassociated dictation receiver (DR) generally identified by the numeral16. In the present form of the invention, the PMD comprises a portablevoice recording device which is of a novel construction later to bedescribed. As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, the dictation receiver 16 isprovided in the form of a docking station 18 having first and second PMDreceiving compartments or receptacles 20 and 22 respectively (FIGS. 1and 4).

Referring to FIG. 8, which is a block diagram showing theinterrelationship of the various PMD components, the PMD can be seen toinclude a power supply 30, which is of conventional construction, and alinear regulator for output control as well as for battery charging. Asindicated in FIG. 8, the conditional power produced by power supply 30is used by all the components of the PMD. In this regard, power supply30 is designed to support more than 24 hours dictation before rechargingand a full recharge of the unit can be accomplished in less that onehour at the high rate or charge and in less than eight hours at thenormal rate of charge.

The primary data input means to the PMD comprises a microphone subsystem32 for picking up the physician's dictation, and a series of controlswitches 34 for dictation control, replay and editing. The microphone ofthe subsystem receives the audio information from the physician andgenerates an electrical signal representative of this audio inputinformation. In the present form of the invention, the microphonesubsystem 32 will support a full 5 kHz bandwidth, yet present no aliasedinformation when sampled at 20 kHz by the digital signal processor unit36. In this regard, a four-pole filter comprises a part of themicrophone subsystem 38. An important feature of each of the PMDcomponents comprises means for placing the system in a sleep mode if novoice input occurs after a set time period. Preferably this means isimplemented in the previously mentioned digital signal processor unit36. Which is of a character well understood by those skilled in the art.

As indicated in FIG. 8, the PMD component further includes a speakersubsystem 40 that is of conventional construction and comprises asuitable audio amplifier and speaker. The primary purpose of the speakersystem is to review and edit material already recorded and to provideaudio cues to the user. Typical audio cues include: the name of thephysician to whom the unit is assigned; the identification number of thepatients involved; a request for the location at which the data file isto be returned; and queries, such as, by way of example, request to bothspeak and spell the name of a patient. Speaker system 40 is of acharacter well known in the art and can be readily designed andconstructed by those skilled in the art.

The LCD display 42 is coupled with the digital signal processor which isalso of conventional construction and functions to provide statusinformation to the user as, for example, remaining battery life memory,pointer location, current user identification, current fileidentification and the like.

In operation, the digital signal processor 36, which comprises a digitalto analog converter, digitizes the electrical signal output of themicrophone subsystem 38 to produce a digital memory signalrepresentative of the electrical signal. The signal processor thencompresses the data to make efficient use of the mass data storagememory 44 with which it is operably coupled. Processor 36 also monitorsthe status of the control switches 34 (FIG. 8) to determine the currentfunction to be implemented. The programs are stored in the programmemory 44 which may be a flash memory or a mask programmed ROM of acharacter that is readily commercially available. A scratchpad memory 46is coupled with the processor 36 and accomplishes compression algorithmcalculations and also processes various other transient information.

Mass data memory 44 is operably coupled with program memory 46 andprovides 16 MB of non-volatile storage. Memory 44 can be implementedwith readily commercially available flash memory. Alternatively, ifdesired, the mass data memory 44 can comprise a battery backed CMOSstatic RAM which would provide faster memory access, and would alsoallow the scratchpad to share the same memory.

Preferably, each PMD has about eight MB file storage and has thecapacity to store at least one hour's actual dictation. In compressedform, each minute of audio recording requires about 90 K bytes datastorage. Therefore, the files will be about 5.4 MB in length.

Turning next to FIG. 7, which is a block diagram of one form of thesystem of the present invention, it can be seen that various dictationreceiver (DR) units 16 of the system and a server identified by thenumeral 24 are connected as a Local Area Network. The hardwareimplementation of the network may be as a standard Local Area Network(LAN) or in some instances as a telephone linked system wherein the DRunits dials into a modem of the server for uploading or downloading ofdata. In this latter case, sever 24 may be a local computer system, orit may be located at the transcription service the character of whichwill presently be described. Each DR unit 16 must be connected asuitable power supply such as a 120 volt power supply (see FIG. 9).

A program running on the server 24 will collect data from the DR units,create temporary backup copies on a hard disk of the computer component,and then transmit the data to an external remote transcription serviceidentified in FIG. 7 by the numeral 26. Transcription service 26 islocated at a remote central processing area (CPA) and performs the datatranscription and then returns a properly formatted text version of thedata to the hospital or physician.

When a particular PMD 14 is placed into a selected one of the PMDreceiving compartments or receptacles, 20 and 22 of the dictationreceiver (FIG. 4), the stored data will be automatically transferredfrom the PMD to the compute component. Also, as previously mentioned,while the PMD is in the dictation receiver compartments of the dockingstation 16, the batteries of the PMD will be automatically recharged bya built-in battery charger disposed within the DR housing.

The data storage in the DR units 16 is non-volatile, either by batterybackup on the memory board or by use of flash memory as the data storagemedium. This provides tolerance against power dropout during the timebetween transfer of data from a PMD component 14 to the DR unit 16 andthe transfer of the data from the DR to the server 24.

It is, of course, necessary that both the mechanical and the electricaldesign of the PMD units 14 be closely coordinated with the design of theDR units 16. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the components mechanicallymate to a tolerance small enough to guarantee proper operation of theinterface between them. The mating electrical interface between thecomponents is such as to allow the PMD 14 to receive raw AC power fromthe DR 16 via a split toroidal transformer disposed within the housingof each DR unit, and pass it to the power supply block for rectificationand battery charging. The PMD 14 also receives data from the DR 16 forhousekeeping, such as clock control, user identification, andinstructions to the user or program updates. The program updates andmodification of user instructions will generally be downloaded to the DR16 by the server 24, but may also be originated by the remotetranscription service 26. In turn, the PMD passes user identificationand compressed data to the DR. When the DR indicates the last data blockhas been successfully received, the memory pointers are reset, and theunit is ready for the next dictation session. If the DR unit signals abattery low condition in the PMD, the PMD must be left in the DR 16until it is suitably recharged.

The PMD unit 14, as illustrated in the drawings and as described in thepreceding paragraphs, can be manufactured without difficulty by thoseskilled in the art using readily commercially available components.Advantageously, as previously mentioned, the PMD unit 14 is speciallydesigned for use in carrying out the particular methods of the inventionso that its use will be readily accepted by practicing physicians. Forexample, the unit is ergonomically designed for ease of use withouthaving to look at the unit to issue normal commands. The PMD componentalso supports convenient review and editing so that selected portions ofthe audio records can be selected and deleted or new segments insertedwithout danger of destroying previous portions of the recorded data.

As best seen by also referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the sixteencharacter alphanumeric low power consumption LCD display 42 is placed onthe top front of the device to prominently display to the physician thepreviously mentioned visual indicators. In this regard, messagesconcerning dictation length and position, battery power remaining,option choice, and so forth, are displayed under suitable softwarecontrol in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art.

In operation of the PMD, a light emitting diode (LED) 45, which isprovided on the front of each PMD unit, illuminates to indicaterecording and erasure functions (FIG. 1). A conventional on-off switch50, located on the right side of the PMD housing (FIG. 3) controlsoperation of the device and renders the function keys inoperative whenthe device is not in use so that the inadvertent depression of the keys(as when the device is carried in a pocket) produces no action. The offposition also conserves battery power.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the speaker component 40 a of the speakersubsystem 40 is located proximate the lower front of the device housingand allows for audio reproduction (playback) of dictations, and audioinstructional messages stored in memory of the PMD. The system of theinvention permits instructional messages to be added, deleted, andamended to readily accommodate the end use of the apparatus. Inaddition, audio indicators of various occurrences, for example,beginning of dictation reached on rewind, various error conditions, andthe like are broadcast through the speaker.

By way of example, in the preferred form of the invention, the systemhas the capability to provide audio (voice) prompts to the user. In thisregard, in many circumstances, it is important for the user to statespecific information. For example, at the beginning of a medicaldictation, the user needs to identify which patient he/she is going totalk about. The Personal Medical Director (PMD) will be able to promptthe user to dictate this data at the beginning of a new dictation.Specifically, when the user holds the “stop-skip” key (for >1 second) to“skip” to recording for a new patient, the PMD will play back a messagethat has been previously recorded, digitized, and stored in the memoryof the PMD, such as “Spell patient name and say medical record number”.Further, the PMD could “say” “welcome Dr. Johnson” at the beginning ofthe first dictation after prior dictations have been transmitted.Another example is the audio reminder “dictating at University Hospital”for those doctors who dictate on patients at more than one venue. Thisfunctionality enhances accuracy of identification of the patient forwhom the dictation is being done as well as alerts the doctor to thesituation where he/she is dictating but the PMD has been set to recorddictation for another doctor.

Additionally, the system has the capability to selectively utilize audioprompts. For example, a doctor who consistently, regularly, routinely,or always spells his patient's names and always states the medicalrecord number does not need to be reminded to do so. Consequently, thesoftware program within the PMD will have logic included to “judge”whether or not a reminder prompt needs to be “spoken” at its usualpoint. This functionality enhances user acceptance and reduces the timeneeded for most users to begin their dictation.

Importantly, the system also has the capability to be “reprogrammed” viathe central office computer as needed. Although the primary function ofthe PMD is to accept dictation and transmit it to a central officecomputer without further action on the part of the user, there is also aneed to transmit data into the PMD; that is, there is a need formodification from time to time of some of the data within the PMD. Forexample, the PMD will contain various tables of information, one ofwhich could be a list of physicians who are authorized to use thedevice. As physicians leave, their names need to be deleted and as newones begin to work and use the PMD, their names need to be added. Thisimportant maintenance function is carried out at the central officecomputer, and needs to be transmitted into the applicable PMD.

In the same vein, the software that runs the PMD can be reprogrammed andthe clock within the PMD can be synchronized with the clock of thecentral computer. Where required an ever changing password can be sentto the PMD from the central computer to enhance security.

Another important feature of one form of the invention is its capabilityto automatically send identification information to the central officecomputer. For example, one of the benefits of the PMD is thattransmission of identifying information (e.g. the doctor's name andidentification number) can occur automatically without the user havingto speak his/her name and without the user having to enter or sayhis/her identification number. This happens because the list ofauthorized users is maintained within each PMD, and the current userdata is transmitted with each dictation that is transmitted. The PMD canbe programmed to maintain only one user in the list of those for whomthis function will be operative or can be programmed to allow manyusers.

Still another important feature of the system of the invention residesin the fact that the PMD can be “programmed” to function specificallyfor particular user characteristics. Unlike prior art digital dictationrecorders, the PMD is designed so that it contains data specific to theuser. That is, a set of characteristics particular to a given user (orgroup of users) is maintained. For example, the device can store in itsmemory the physician's name and identification number and the venuewhere the patient was seen. Similarly, if a PMD is used by more than onedoctor, each can choose his/her name from the “Doctor Option List”.Importantly, the same technique can be used to specify whether adictation is routine or is to be transcribed immediately.

A conventional wheel type volume control 52 is located on the right sideof the device (FIG. 2), and a conventional microphone 54 which is usedfor the signal acquisition, is provided on the upper front of thedevice. The microphone is specially designed to optimize dictation bythe physician in a noisy environment.

An infrared (or induction type) memory signal transmission means ordevice 56 of the character well known to those skilled in the art islocated flush with the left side of the PMD housing (FIG. 3) andfunctions to enable “connectorless” bi-directional data transfer fromthe PMD to the receiver means, or dictation receiver 16.

One or more “Non-memory” type rechargeable batteries are disposed insidethe PMD housing and are recharged by a conventional battery chargerdisposed within the housing of the DR 16. The batteries used in the PMDcompartment preferably have the capability of powering the deviceintermittently for a 48 hour period with a total dictating and playbacktime of six hours.

“Non-volatile” memory (no loss of data with power loss) is assured byproviding a separate battery within the PMD component whose only purposeis to maintain memory until the main batteries are recharged. Memorysufficient to store the device program and data tables, plus 60 minutesof compressed speech, is provided within the PMD.

In using the PMD 14, six function keys control recording, playback,erasure, positioning, and option selection in the following manner (seeFIG. 1):

RECORD MODE: Pressing the “Record” key 56 once causes the device tobegin acquiring an audio signal, begin to digitize the signal, thencompress the signal and finally store the compressed signal in thedevice memory. Pressing 56, or another key, stops recording. Pressingand hold key 56 starts recording which will continue until the key isreleased.

LEFT ARROW: Pressing the left or back arrow key 58 causes the device torewind, that is to move back in time in the dictation for a period offive seconds (or to the start if less than five seconds). The PMD willthen play back the dictation to the point where the key was pressed andthen will stop. Pressing and holding key 58 causes the device to rewindcontinuously at a progressively rapid rate until the key is released oruntil the beginning of the dictation is reached, at which time playbackbegins. Playback ends when the starting position is reached or anotherkey is pressed.

RIGHT ARROW: Pressing the right or forward arrow key 60 causes thedevice to playback the dictation to the end or until another key ispressed, and then to stop. Holding key 60 down causes the device to“fast forward” that is move forward in time, at a progressively rapidrate until the key is released. The device will then begin playing tothe end or until another key is pressed.

STOP—SKIP: Pressing the “Stop—Skip” key 62 stops any current action thatmay be occurring. Pressing and holding the key causes the device to stopthen set itself to a new patient's dictation.

OPTIONS MODE: Pressing the “o” key 64 causes the device to enter the“options” mode so that the user can choose from a number of values foreach of a number of options. For example, the first option might be the“Dictator” option wherein the user's name and identification number canbe specified by selecting from the list of users (dictators) authorizedto use the unit. Another option, “patient location”, allows the user toselect the location where the patient dictation occurs as, for example,in a hospital or in the doctor's office. Pressing the option key 64repeatedly causes the display to show the various option categories opento the physician, one after the other. Simultaneously, the option nameis “spoken” by “playing” its digitized name as stored in memory of thePMD unit. Holding this key causes each item in this list to be displayedfor one second, one after the other with the first ¾ second of each namebeing “spoken”.

The selections available in each option list are displayed and spoken aseither the back arrow key 58 or the forward arrow key 60 is pressed.Holding one of these keys moves through the list, one item at a time,displaying for one second and speaking for the first {fraction (3/4)}second the name of the selection.

ERASE: Pressing key 66 causes the current operation to stop. Pressing itagain, or simply holding it, causes the PMD to enter the “erase” mode.Pressing any key thereafter stops the erase function.

In addition to the operations described in the preceding paragraphs, itis to be noted that pressing any key of the PMD 14 will cause thecurrent operation to cease. Further, pressing any key except erasecauses the operation corresponding to that key to occur.

Turning next to FIGS. 1, 5, 6, and 9, the cooperative interactionbetween the PMDs 14 and the DRs is there illustrated. As shown in FIGS.1 and 4 dictation receiver (DR) 16 closely receives the PMDs 14 in thereceiving compartments or chambers 20 and 22. As indicated in FIGS. 1and 9, the DR 16 is, for all practical purposes, a stand-alone specialpurpose computer or docking station having special interfacecapabilities necessary to service the PMDs. In normal operation, thereis no keyboard or monitor attached to the DR. However, ports may beprovided for those peripherals for debugging and troubleshootingsupport. As depicted in FIG. 9, the PMD interface 69 is the directinterface to the Personal Medical Dictator. This interface supplies AC(^(˜)6V rms) power by driving the primary coils of a split toroidaltransformer. By sensing the load on this transformer, the interfaceassesses the state of charge for the rechargeable batteries in the PMD.As previously mentioned, the charging rate supplied to the PMD can beswitched between a normal recharge mode and a fast recharge mode. Thenormal mode will restore the PMD batteries in about 8 hours. The fastmode will recharge the batteries in less than one hour. The PMDinterface 69 also implements a high-speed bi-directional data path tothe PMD. This data path is preferably implemented as a magneticallycoupled path that provides for high speed transfers.

Disposed interiorly of the housing 18 of DR unit is a memory signalreceiving means provided here as an infrared or induction-type,bi-directional receiving component. This component aligns with the PMDtransmission means or infrared transmission component when the PMD isseated within receiving chambers 20 and 22. In this seated position, thedigital memory signal representing the dictated data is immediatelytransferred from the PMD to the DR 16. Also disposed within the dockingstation 18 is the previously mentioned recharging hardware. Rechargingis preferably done by induction so that the PMD and the DR have noexposed electrical connection points. An electrical cord 70 connects theDR 16 to a suitable wall outlet and a phone wire with RJ 11 extends fromthe DR and functions to interconnect the unit with a telephone line. Anethernet connection is also available for connecting to a local area network for more extensive systems. (FIG. 1).

The Power Supply 76 (FIG. 9) of each DR unit generates high quality 5Vpower for use by the various components of the DR, and also provides theraw 6V AC to the PMD interface. The computer component of each DR 16comprises a conventional printed circuit card which executes anoperating system from ROM. The operating system also preferably includesa LAN interface 78, as for example, a ICP Acquire Card. The motherboardin the DR computer component is an off-the-shelf board that can runreadily commercially available software as, for example, Visual Basic,to permit easy and efficient programming.

The LCD and LED display 80 of each DR unit includes several pairs of redand green LEDs and their respective drivers. In a manner well understoodin the art, display 80 indicates whether or not the DR is ready toreceive more data, and also indicates the status of transfers that arein progress. The LEDs will show steady green (go) as a ready indicator,red (stop) when the system is not available and amber (caution) forindicating that data transfers are in progress. The LCD portion of thedisplay 80 is a four line by 16 character unit for conveying shortmessages to the user. Conditions indicated by the display include statusof transfer to host, amount of memory still available, problems with theLAN interface 82 or with the telephone link and like operatingconditions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the LED display 80 is easily visible on the front ofthe PMD so as to clearly indicate the various functional states of theDR and of the PMD components seated in the DR. These indicators includethe following:

“Available”—Appearance of this indicia indicates that there is memoryavailable in the DR to accept input from one or more PMDs. When only onewhite LED is illuminated there is enough memory available in the DR toaccommodate only one PMD dictation. If both LEDs are illuminated two PMDdictations can be accommodated.

“Operating”—This indicia indicates that the PMD is properly seated inthe receiving compartment and that data transmission is taking place.According, the PMD should not be removed from the receiving compartment,when this signal is illuminated. One Yellow (caution) LED is providedfor each receiving compartment.

“Complete”—When this indicia appears, the physician is notified thatdata contained within the PMD has been successfully transmitted from thePMD to the DR. This indicia also indicates that the PMD's memory hasbeen reset so that the PMD can be safely removed. One Green (go) LED isprovided for each receiving compartment. When the DR completes its datatransfer to the central processing area (CPA), a second Green LED forreceiving compartment containing a PMD compartment will illuminateconfirming successful transmission of DR's memory and/or successfulreprogramming.

“Not Available”—When this indicia appears, the physician is therebyadvised that the receiving compartment is empty but not “available” forinsertion of a PMD because there is insufficient memory in the DR toaccept dictation from a PMD. One Red LED is provided for each receivingcompartment in the DR.

When data has been transferred from the PMDs seated in the DR, and whenone or both of the green LEDs are illuminated, the PMDs can safely beremoved. If there is insufficient memory available in one of thecompartments for another PMD to be received, red LED for that receivingcompartment will illuminate and will remain illuminated until enoughmemory becomes available in the DR to accept dictation from another PMD.

Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with therequirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this are will haveno difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individualparts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirementsor conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth inthe following claims.

I claim:
 1. A system for capturing and preserving audio information, the system comprising: a) a portable audio recording device comprising: a microphone for receiving the audio information and for generating therefrom an electrical signal representative of the audio information; a digital signal processor for receiving the electrical signal from the microphone and for generating in response thereto a digital memory signal representative of the electrical signal; a storage medium for storing the digital memory signal; and a first memory signal transmitter operably associated with the digital signal processor for transferring the digital memory signal from the audio recording device; b) a base cooperatively associated with the portable audio recording device for receiving the digital memory signal therefrom, the base comprising: a housing having at least one receptacle for receiving the portable audio recording device; a computer having a memory; a memory signal receiver for receiving the digital memory signal from the memory signal transmitter of the portable audio recording device; a second memory signal transmitter operably associated with the memory signal receiver for transferring the digital memory signal to the computer; and a data transmitter operably associated with the computer for transmitting data stored therein; and c) a data processor operably associated with the base for receiving data therefrom and for producing a record thereof.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable audio recording device further comprises a digital to analog converter operably associated with the storage medium.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the portable audio recording device further comprises an audio speaker operably associated with the digital to analog converter for generating and emitting an acoustic signal.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage medium of the portable audio recording device further comprises instructional or informational messages.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of providing audio prompts.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system is capable of providing the audio prompts selectively according to habits of a user.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is reprogrammable.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable audio recording device further comprises a visual display.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a visual display.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable audio recording device further comprises a sleep mode wherein if no audio information is detected by the microphone for a set time period, the device automatically reduces power.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the data is automatically transferred from the base to the data processor when the portable audio recording device is positioned within the at least one receptacle of the housing.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory signal transmitter comprises an infrared, bi-directional transmission component.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory signal transmitter comprises an induction-type transmission component.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable audio recording device further comprises rechargeable batteries.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the base further comprises a battery charger for charging the batteries when the portable audio recording device is positioned within the at least one receptacle of the housing.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the battery charger comprises an induction-type charger.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the rechargeable batteries are automatically recharged when the portable audio recording device is positioned within the at least one receptacle of the housing.
 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the data processor further comprises a transcribing device for converting the digital memory signal into a written transcript.
 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the microphone of the portable audio recording device further comprises a four-pole filter.
 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory of the base is non-volatile.
 21. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage medium of the portable audio recording device is non-volatile.
 22. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of automatically sending identifying information to the data processor.
 23. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is programmable to function specifically for particular characteristics of a user.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the programmable system is usable to specify whether certain of the audio information is routine or is to be transcribed immediately. 